Spencer Duffendack
SPENCER J. DUFFENDACK
M.S. Student
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Education:
M.S. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University (in progress)
B.S. Biology, Truman State University, 2025
Research Project: Investigating the physiological and environmental factors influencing the distribution of the Rio Grande Cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi)
Research Overview: I am a biologist interested in leveraging ecological research to inform conservation and management, especially as applied to herpetofauna. During my undergraduate studies, I led research investigating the presence of chytrid fungus in an amphibian community in northern Missouri, thermal ecology of Checkered Whiptail Lizards (Aspidoscelis tesselatus) in the Chihuahuan Desert, and the chemoreceptive response of Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) to seasonally abundant prey. At ENMU, I am working on a project investigating the physiological and environmental factors that influence the distribution of the Rio Grande Cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi), a species of greatest conservation need in New Mexico and Texas, and am co-advised by Dr. Corey Green.
Publications:
Duffendack SJ, Davis DR. In review. Geographic distribution: Pseudemys gorzugi (Rio Grande cooter). Herpetological Review.
Duffendack SJ, Davis DR. In review. Geographic distribution: Plestiodon obsoletus (Great Plains skink). Herpetological Review.
Duffendack SJ, Davis DR. In review. Geographic distribution: Plestiodon multivirgatus (many-lined skink). Herpetological Review.
Myers CJ, Genter BW, Green KE, Kuschel JE, Duffendack SJ, Davis DR. 2025. Geographic distribution: Tarentola mauritanica (Moorish gecko). Herpetological Review 56:382–383. [PDF]
Presentations:
Duffendack SJ, Green CS, Davis DR. 2026. Turtle tribulations: physiological response to salinity and thermal ecology of the Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi) in the Pecos River. Eastern New Mexico University, Student Research and Creativity Conference; Portales, New Mexico; April 2026 [poster presentation]
